Why Your Photos Suck (Picture This!)

Get an awesome portfolio at http://squarespace.com/tony Use the coupon code 'portfolio' for 10% off Chelsea & Tony discuss 10 things that could be making your photos worse and offer advice on how to improve as a photographer. To learn more about photography check out their book: http://SDP.io/s Show Notes: -You’re new Would Tony be good at guitar? Would Chelsea be good at programming? -You don't practice enough (or right) Take more shots with purpose -You're not telling a story It’s OK to take pictures just for the sake of taking pictures. But they’ll be better if there’s a subject, feeling, meaning. -You don’t use your shots How good would you be at building chairs if you built chairs and nobody ever sat in them? Sharing, printing, contests, publishing Sometimes I see people say, “This is the first shot I’ve ever shared” and it’s wonderful. Well, that’s just stupid. Portfolio -You do the same thing over and over again Try something new -Study a new technique Add more tools to your tool belt by learning new techniques and skills Long exposure How to use filter Panning Color theory -You don’t study and appreciate the work of other photographers Appreciate other photographers that photograph similar and different subject matter Think about why you (and others) like them -You don't study the history of photography Learn about histories great photographers What made them great? How did they change photography? Watch CLASSIC MOVIES, like 2001 a Space Odyssey, Citizen Kane, etc. -You don't take constructive feedback well Know when to listen Accept you aren’t perfect See having more things to learn as a plus Compete with yourself, not others Don’t judge others harshly Learn self-compassion You don't do collaborations with other photographers/artists/stylists Work with other people to broaden your mind Do creative exercises Or technical work if you’re creative Don't be afraid or too intimidated to learn from others ----You’re afraid to fail Accept that failure is a part of learning Don't be a perfectionist - and finish projects that you start! Set out expecting to fail Push yourself Test your boundaries Make a photo YOU like even if others won't Try making something ugly Surround yourself with supportive people